Control of electric elevators.



NO- 803,378. PATBNTED OUT. 31, 1905. GI Al Pl CONTROL OF ELECTRICELEVATORS.

APPLICATION YILED APR. 3, 1905.

fimfizif/ 1 W E 43 m f y E Z QM 1 1 1 b 1 hm. J Z ez w J m A Q m w MT kK H P r J W q EIIIIIIiIIIIIIiIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I FIQIIIIIEIIIIIEIIIIF IIIIIIIIEEIIEIIW V 1 G E 1 G g/ J R a J a v w 2 Q Kwm 7 l 1 f i F a J I J J/ l 0 A 3 the landing and the lift.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONTROL OF ELECTRIC ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed April 3, 1905. Serial No. 253,536.

To (bi/Z wimp 1 it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ANDREW PHILIP WEYMOUTH, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 234 Little Lonsdale street, inthe city of Melbourne, county of Bourke, State of Victoria, Commonwealthof Australia, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Controlof Electric Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lifts or cages which are raised or lowered by anelectric motor.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple system ofpush-buttons, switches, wires, and other parts whereby the lift may becontrolled from its interior or from any landing. The switches beforereferred to are so arranged that the floor of the lift always stops inabsolutely the same plane as the landing required; but in order that myinvention may be better understood I will now refer to the accompanyingsheet of drawings, which are to be taken as part of this specificationand read herewith.

Figure 1 represents, on an enlarged scale, a perspective View of thelanding-switch. It is open. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a lift andlift-shaft, partly in sectio'n.

To clearly disclose thestriker and switches, a space wider than ordinaryis shown between The lift is stationary at the third landing. Theswitches on the top and bottom floor and the upper one on the secondfloor are closed. The two switches on the third floor and the bottom oneon thesecond floor are open. The object of these switches is to changethe connections to the push-buttons on the landings that those below thelift are always set for bringing the lift down and those above the liftare always set for bringing the lift up, no matter what the position ofthe lift in the lift-well may be. By means not included in thisinvention the lift and landing push-buttons are so arranged andinterlocked that when one button is pushed another cannot be moved untilthe lift stops. Arrangements are also made in any ordinary way that thelift-shaft door cannot be opened until the lift is opposite it, anduntil the door is closed the lift cannot be started. The motor-circuitsand the accelerating mechanism being of any ordinary character are notshown. Theenergizing-circuits donotoccupy in practice the positionillustrated; but they are so shown for convenience.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding partswhere they occur in both the views.

My invention includes a lift or cage A. This is supported by a ropepassing over a drum B. At-the other end of the rope is a balance-weightC. The said drum B is aliixcd to a drum-shaft D, upon which is awormwheel. (Unseen) The said worm-wheel is driven by a worm on themotor-shaft E by the motor F, or the said lift may be operated in anyother well-known way. Near each lift-floor and inside the shaft isattached a landing-switch. This, as seen in Fig. 1, has a base-board G,in which are vertical adjusting-slots H. To this base-board is attacheda tumbler-bracket J. Between two checks outstanding from this and upon apivot-pin K is pivoted the tumbler L. The said tumbler L has on itsouter end two legs M, while on its inner end it has stop-faces N.Protruding on each side of the said tumbler is a stud O. To this stud ispivoted the outer end of the retaining-spring P. The inner end of thesaid spring is attached to the tumbler-bracket J. Upon the saidtumbler-bracket J are cushioning-springs Q, upon whichthe stop-faces 0nthe tumbler'strike. Attached to the tumbler ,is the inner end of acarbon-holding spring R.

To the outer end of the said spring is attached the outer carbon contactS. There is also at tached to the baseboard G a carbon-holder T. To theouter end of this is attached in any well-known way the inner carboncontact U. Upon the tumbler-bracket J and carbon-hold er T are terminalscrews V. The before-described landing-switches are attached at eachlanding inside the lift-shaft and the legs protrude into the shaft. Atthe top and bottom floors only one switch is used, whereas at theintermediate floors two of them areapplied. Instead, however, of therebeing two switches at everyintermediate floor a single reversingswitchcan be used. P rotruding from the lift, so as to engage with the legs M,is the striker W. The outer end of this may be provided with a roller orother attachment whereby a silent contact may be formed with the Insteadof the lift operattumbler legs.

ing the switches they may be moved by the balance-weight C. The saidlanding and lift push-buttons are so electrically arranged in relationto each other that after one is pushed no other button can be pusheduntil the lift stops.

In combination with the foregoing I employ an up-solenoid X and adown-solenoid Y. hen a current passes through either one of thesesolenoids, contact is made through the motor-contacts Z with themotor-circuit, which causes the motor F to move in either direction. Tothe said solenoids is led the positive main A. Between the solenoids isattached thebridging-wireB. Fromthe up-solenoidX proceeds the up-circuitC. To the up-circuit wire C is attached one end of the up-landingcircuit branches D. The other end of each of the said up-landing circuitbranches is connected to a landing-switch, one of which is on all thelandings but the bottom. From the down-solenoid Y proceeds thedown-circuit wire E. To this are attached one end of the down-landingcircuit branches F. The other end of each of the said branches F isconnected to the landing-switch, one of which is situated on all thelandings except the top.

At each landing is a landing push-button. These are marked 1 2 3 4:. Tothese are connected the return-main G. This enters the lift A, in whichis a contact-plate J and an emergency-switch H. The object of thisswitch is to break the circuit and stop the lift in case of pressing thewrong button. The return -main G from the lift proceeds to the negativemain N. Between the landing push-buttons and the landing-switches arecoupling-wires K.

In the lift are lift push-buttonsl 2 3 4. To these are connected theinner ends of lift-circuit wires L. The outer ends of these areconnected to the landing-switches.

The cycle of operation with my invention is as follows: A person on theground-floor, hereinafter called the "first floor, discovering the liftis absent or as shown in Fig. 2 presses a landing push-button. Thedowncircuit is thereby closed, and the motor-contact Z operates thelift-motor so that it lowers the lift. The lift continues lowering untilit reaches the bottom, for after the button is pushed the down-solenoidY is acting. The passage of the current which energizes th'emotor-contact Z is through the positive main A, the down-solenoid Y, andthe down-circuit wire E. It then passes through the landing-switch onthe first floor, the couplingwire K, the landing push-button 1 to thereturn-main Gr. It then proceeds to the emergency-switch H and fromthere to the negative main i hen the lift reaches the first floor, thestriker W engages with the lower leg M of the tumbler, and the circuitis opened. The motor-contact Z recovers itself and the motor stops, orshould the lift be required on the fourth floor on the landingbuttonbeing pushed the current passes through the up-solenoid X, theLip-circuit C, the branch I), across the landingswitch, through thelanding-button L to the negative return G, into the lift, across theemergencyswitch H, and away to the negative main N. The up-solenoidregulates the motor-contacts so that the said motor raises the lift, anddirectly the striker IV on the lift strikes and moves the upper leg onthe tumbler on the fourth floor the circuit is broken and the motorstops. The door on the fourth landing can then be opened. On enteringthe lift the person closes the door. If he wishes to reach the secondfloor, he presses the lift push-button marked 2. The current then passesthrough the down-solenoid Y, the down-circuit wire E, the branch F tothe upper switch on the second floor, the coupling-wire K, theliftcircuit wire L, through the car push-button 2 to the contact-plateJ, through the emergency-switch H to the negative main N. Directly thelift strikes and moves the bottom leg of the tumbler on the upper switchon the second floor the circuit is broken and the motor stops.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desiretosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the control of electric elevators, one switch on the upper andlower landing and two switches at each intermediate landing, and saidswitches being electrically connected to push-buttons in circuit with areturn-main.

2. In the control of electric elevators, a lift having therein liftpush-buttons, each of said buttons being connected by lift-circuit wiresto landing-switches, a contact-plate in said lift in circuit with areturn-main, and an emergency-switch in said return-main, in connectionwith the negative main.

3. In an electric elevator, acircuit-controller supported in the path ofthe lift to be moved thereby in either direction, saidcircuit-controller comprising a base-board, a tumblerbracket carried bysaid base-board, a tumbler carried by said bracket, and means fornormally retaining said tumbler in adjusted positions.

4. In an electric elevator, a circuit-controller supported in the pathof the lift to be moved thereby in either direction, saidcircuit-controller comprising a pivotally-mounted tumbler, said tumblerprovided with a plurality of legs, and means for normally retaining saidtumbler in an adjusted position.

5. In an electric elevator, at circuit-controller supported in the pathof the lift to be moved thereby in either direction, saidcircuit-controller comprising a body provided with outwardlyprojectingextensions, and yielding means for normally holding said controller inadjusted positions.

6. In an electric elevator, at circuit-controller supported in the pathof the lift to be moved thereby in either direction, saidcircuit-controller comprisingabase, a pivotally-mounted tumbler carriedby said base, said tumbler comprising a body portion provided with legsand a terminal, said base provided with aterminal adapted to be engagedby the terminal carried by said tumbler for closing the circuit, andmeans for securingsaid tumbler in an adjusted position.

7. A circuit-controller, comprising a baseboard, a bracket provided withparallel cheeks carried by said base-board, a tumbler carried by saidcheeks, cushioning means carried by said bracket and adapted to beengaged by said tumbler, a terminal formed upon said tumbler, a terminalformed upon said baseboard and adapted to be engaged by the terminalcarried by said tumbler for closing the circuit.

8. A circuit-controller, comprising a support, a terminal formed uponsaid support, and a movable tumbler carried by said support, saidtumbler provided with a springterminal and with substantially parallellegs, said spring-terminal adapted to engage the terminal carried bysaid support for closing the circuit.

9. In an electric elevator, a circuit-controller supported in the pathof the lift to be moved thereby in either direction, said circuitcontroller comprising a movable body provided with substantiallyparallel legs adapted to be engaged by the lift for either opening orclosing the circuit.

10. A circuit-controller, comprising a support, said'support providedwith a terminal,

a tumbler carried by said support, cushioning means carried by saidsupport contiguous to said tumbler, yielding means carried by saidsupport and connected to said tumbler for retaining the same in anadjusted position, said tumbler provided with a terminal, and meansextending from said tumbler adapted to be engaged foropening and closinga circuit.

11. A circuit-controller, comprising a support, a stationary terminalcarried by said support, a tumbler carried by said support, aspring-terminal carried by said tumbler, cushioning means securedcontiguous to said tumbler, and yielding means for securing said tumblerin an adjusted position.

12. In an electric elevator, a circuit-controller supported in the pathof the lift to be moved thereby in either direction, saidcircuitcontroller comprising a base member, a stationary terminalsecured to said base member, a tumbler-bracket carried by said basemember, a tumbler movably mounted upon said bracket, cushioning-springscarried by said bracket contiguous to said tumbler, a springterminalcarried by said tumbler and adapted to engage said stationary terminalcarried by said base member for closing acircuit, and out-Wardly-diverging legs formed upon said tumbler and adapted to be engagedby said lift for opening or closing a circuit.

13. A circuit-controller, comprising a support, a stationary terminalcarried by said support, a tumbler provided with a terminal carried bysaid support, and cushioning means arranged in diametrically oppositepositions upon said support contiguous to said tumbler, said cushioningmeans adapted to be engaged by said tumbler when in adjusted positions.

1&. A circuit-controller, comprising a support, a stationary terminalcarried by said support, a tumbler carried by said support, a lateralprojection formed upon said tumbler, yielding means connecting saidlateral projection and said support, and a terminal formed upon saidtumbler and adapted to engage the stationary terminal carried by saidsupport for closing a circuit.

15. A circuit-controller, comprising a stationary terminal,apivotally-mounted member provided with legs, and a terminal carried bysaid legs, the terminal of said member adapted to engage the stationaryterminal for closing the circuit.

16. In an electric elevator, a circuit-controller supported in the pathof the lift to be moved thereby in either direction, saidcircuitcontroller comprising a slotted base member, a stationaryterminal carried by said base member, a tumbler-bracket carried by saidbase member, parallel cheeks carried by. said bracket, a tumbler movablymounted between said cheeks, cushioning-springs secured to said bracketcontiguous to said tumbler and adapted to be engaged thereby, saidtumbler comprising a body portion provided with outwardlydiverging legs,a removable spring-terminal carried by said body, said spring-terminaladapted to engage the stationary terminal for closing the circuit, alateral extension formed upon said body, and yielding means connectingsaid lateral extension and said bracket.

17. In the control of electric elevators, a single switch upon the upperand lower landings, switches upon each of the intermediate landings,each of said switches comprising a tumbler provided with a terminal andoutwardly-diverginglegs, and saidswitches being electrically connectedto push-buttons in circuit with the return-main. 4

18. in the control of electric elevators, the combination with a lift,of a switch upon the upper and lower landings, switches upon theintermediate landing, means carried by said lift for operating saidswitches, each of said switches provided with a terminal and legs, andsaid switches being electrically connected to push-buttons in circuitwith a return-main.

19. In an electric elevator, the combination with a lift, a switch oneach of the landings, means carried by said lift for actuating saidswitches, each of said switches comprising a movable body provided witha terminal and outwardly-projecting legs, said switches beingelectrically connected to a return-main by manually-operated means incircuit with said main and capable of closing the circuit.

20. In the control of electric elevators, alift provided with liftpush-buttons, each of said buttons being connected by lift-circuit wiresto landingeswitches, a contact-plate in said lift in circuit with thereturn-main, and an emergency-switch carried by said lift in saidreturn-main and in connection with negative main.

21. In an electric elevator, the combination with a lift, a switch uponthe upper and lower landings, switches upon the intermediate landing,each of said switches of the intermediate landing comprising a terminalcarrying-tumbler, a stationary terminal coacting with each of saidtumblers, each stationary terminal carried contiguous to its tumbler indiametrically opposite positions to the terminal for operating with theother tumbler, and means carried by said lift for actuating said tumblerfor opening and closing the circuit.

22. In an electric elevator, the combination with a lift, of acircuit-controller upon each landing and supported in the path of thelift to be moved thereby in either direction, said circuit-controllercomprising a stationary terminal, a pivotally-mounted tumbler securedcontiguous to said stationary terminal, said tumbler provided with aspring carrying-terminal and legs, and means carried by said liftadapted to actuate said tumblers for causing their terminal to engagethe stationary terminal or be moved from engagement therewith.

23. In an electric elevator, the combination with a lift, a circuit forcontrolling movement of said lift, said circuit provided with a switch,said switch comprising a stationary terminal, a tumbler secured to saidstationary terminal, a spring-terminal carried by said tumbler,outwardly-diverging legs secured to said tumbler, and a push-button uponsaid circuit being capable of closing the circuit for permitting thecurrent to energize the motor for actuating the lift.

24:. In an electric elevator, the combination with a lift and a motor,of a circuit connected to a landing, said lift and motor, a push-buttonin said circuit, a switch in said circuit, said switch comprising apivotally-mountcd member carrying a terminal, a stationary terminalsecured contiguous to said member, legs extending from said member, andmeans carried by said lift and adapted to alternately engage said legsfor opening and closing said switch.

25. In an electric elevator, a circuit-controller supported in the pathof the lift to be moved thereby in either direction, saidcircuitcontroller, comprising a stationary terminal, a pivotally-mountedmember secured contiguous to said stationary terminal, saidpivotallymounted member provided with a terminal and extensions, meansformed upon said lift and adapted to alternately engage said extensionsfor either opening or closing the circuit.

26. In an electric elevator, the combination with a lift, of acircuit-controller carried in position to be actuated by said lift, saidcircuit-controller comprising a stationary terminal, a movable membersecured contiguous to said stationary terminal, said. movable memberprovided with a terminal adapted to en gage the stationary terminal forclosing the circuit, and said movable member provided with means adaptedto be alternately engaged by said lift for opening or closing thecircuit for moving the first terminal into engagement with or away fromthe stationary terminal.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ANDREW llllhll \VEYlllOU'lll.

Witnesses:

EDWIN PHILLIrs, GEORGE A. UREN.

